wellness
Walking Groups Long Beach: Start One This Summer
Learn how to start a walking group in Long Beach neighborhoods. Discover free community fitness programs, popular meeting spots in Bixby Knolls and East Village, and why 14 new groups launched this summer.
How we reported this
Long Beach recorded 14 new neighborhood walking groups registered with city recreation programs between May and early July 2026.
Summer temperatures and post-pandemic interest in outdoor routines have pushed more people toward scheduled group activity instead of solo efforts. City data shows participation in free community fitness programs rose 22 percent from the same period last year, with walking groups drawing the largest share of new sign-ups.
Pick a spot and spread the word
Successful groups in Bixby Knolls meet every Tuesday and Thursday at 7 a.m. outside the Bixby Knolls Shopping Center on Atlantic Avenue before heading south along the tree-lined residential streets toward Cherry Avenue. In the East Village, another group assembles at 6:30 a.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays near the Long Beach Museum of Art on Ocean Boulevard and walks the flat shoreline path to Junipero Avenue. Both routes stay under three miles and avoid steep grades.
The Long Beach Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine lists 18 approved walking routes on its website, including loops inside El Dorado Regional Park and the San Gabriel River Trail segment that begins at the Seventh Street entrance. Residents can reserve a free meeting spot through the department’s online portal or by calling the recreation office at least 10 days ahead.
Keep numbers manageable and costs at zero
A 2025 report from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health found that groups of eight to 15 participants maintain attendance rates above 70 percent after three months, while larger crowds see drop-off. Most Long Beach groups operate without fees; participants simply bring water and comfortable shoes. The city’s wellness initiative supplies reflective vests and printed route maps at no charge for any group that registers.
Next steps include posting a notice on the neighborhood Nextdoor app or the Long Beach Community Facebook page two weeks before the first walk, then confirming a backup indoor location such as the gymnasium at the Billie Jean King Main Library on Long Beach Boulevard in case of heavy rain. After the initial session, groups can request a city-issued permit to use park picnic tables for post-walk stretching.